Wharf at Urangan damaged, but saved from fire

FIREBUGS travelling by boat have caused about $2000 worth of damage to a wharf owned by Fraser Coast Fuel at Fishermans Wharf Marina in Urangan.

The wharf was found ablaze at 6:30am yesterday morning by builder Russell Clark, who spent 45 minutes putting out the fire by himself.

Mr Clark's action saved Fraser Coast Fuel what would have been more than $350,000 in damage, had the fire had taken hold and done its worst.

The wharf is a stop-off for fishing trawlers, whale boats and cruisers which fill up on fuel brought by truck.

The arsonists had left behind a couple of empty bait packets when they set fire to driftwood they'd heaped on the structure, he said.

Mr Clark said it was lucky the fire had been caught and the wharf's support beam hadn't been allowed to smoulder away.

Fraser Coast Fuel director Jeff Keen said a gate would now have to be built at the wharf to protect it from potential intruders.

Mr Russell said: "If it had been left for an hour or half longer this wharf would have to be completely rebuilt."

Mr Keen said the prospect would have been devastating to the business.Mr Russell said he didn't ring the fire brigade and as he had access to a fire hose and water tap locked behind shed doors at the time. "It was lucky I had a key," he said.